UC Mechanical Engineering

20/08/2026

A quick reminder for those who completed their degree in 2025 🎓

There’s still time to complete the Graduate Destinations Survey before it closes on 24 Aug 2026.

If you haven’t filled it out yet, check your inbox for the survey link — and don’t forget, you’ll also have the chance to go in the draw to win some great prizes!

30/07/2026

Calling all those who completed their degree in 2025! 🎓

We’d love to hear how things have been going since you finished your studies at UC.

The Graduate Destinations Survey was sent to your email earlier this week, so have a look in your inbox and take a few minutes to fill it out.

You’ll also have the chance to go in the draw to win some great prizes!

Check your inbox for the survey link.

29/07/2026

Industry Connect 2026 is coming up next Wednesday, 5 August!

The event brings together industry professionals, UC staff and engineering students for an evening of conversation, networking and connection.

Following strong interest last year, we’ll also be offering laboratory tours for those keen to take a closer look at some of the work happening across the department.

We hope Industry Connect will be a great opportunity for industry to engage directly with our students and staff over refreshments.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Event link with details: https://lnkd.in/eTbBqymm

15/07/2026

Although the University is still in the middle of the term break, the Mechanical Engineering department was bustling last week as we welcomed young engineers aged 9–13 to our facilities for KidsFest 2026!

Across three hands-on days, participants built and tested earthquake-resistant towers on a shake table, designed low-drag vehicles for wind-tunnel testing, and constructed mechanical, string-controlled prosthetic hands using 3D-printed parts. They also toured the Mechanical Engineering facilities and learned more about the many possibilities within engineering.

Thank you to everyone involved in delivering the sessions, and to all the enthusiastic young engineers who helped make KidsFest 2026 such a fun and memorable event!

15/06/2026

Join us for KidsFest 2026 at the University of Canterbury and experience three days of hands-on engineering adventures designed for children aged 9–13!

🏗️ 7 July – Shake Table Challenge
Build and test earthquake-resistant towers using 3D-printed parts and bamboo skewers.

🏎️ 8 July – Vehicle Design
Create and wind-tunnel-test high-speed vehicle designs while exploring aerodynamics and human-powered transport.

🦾 9 July – Prosthetic Hands
Construct a working mechanical prosthetic hand and discover the fascinating world of biomedical engineering.

Along the way, participants will tour UC's Mechanical Engineering facilities, meet student engineering clubs, and get hands-on with real engineering concepts and technology.

📍 University of Canterbury – John Britten Building
🕙 Morning and afternoon sessions available
👟 Closed footwear required

🎟️ Tickets are available now: https://events.humanitix.com/uc-kidsfest-towers-vehicles-and-prosthetics

Spaces are limited, so secure your spot today!

Send a message to learn more

04/02/2026

We’re now recruiting Mechanical Engineering Final Year Project topics.

Mechanical Engineering Final Year Projects bring together design, modelling, analysis, and validation to explore complex engineering problems with real unknowns, rather than routine solutions.

Each year, multiple student teams work in parallel on industry- and research-informed challenges, taking projects through to a proof-of-principle or working prototype stage and presenting their outcomes as part of a structured programme.

Strong projects offer sufficient scope for a small student team to take ownership of different work streams and involve an engaged sponsor who can provide regular guidance and an external perspective.

With the new term commencing shortly, we invite organisations interested in collaborating with our students to propose project topics.

👉 Learn more about what makes a good project and how to submit a proposal here: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/study/academic-study/engineering/schools-and-departments-engineering-forestry-product-design/mechanical-engineering-department/rd-collaborations

Photo: Mechanical Engineering Final Year Project presentation day.

UC Engineering | Saurabh Sinha

29/01/2026

Position Available: Senior Lecturer / Associate Professor / Professor in Aerospace Engineering

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Canterbury is seeking outstanding academic leaders to join us at the level of Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, or Professor in Aerospace Engineering.

This role offers a unique opportunity to play a pivotal part in shaping aerospace education and research at UC. The successful applicant will contribute to the growth of the Aerospace minor within the BE(Hons) programme and serve as the inaugural Director of the newly established UC Aerospace Research Centre.

Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Closing date: 1 March 2026, 11:55 pm NZDT
Discover more: https://jobs.canterbury.ac.nz/jobdetails/ajid/aJXX9/Senior-Lecturer-Associate-Professor-Professor-in-Aerospace-Engineering,29914

29/01/2026

What does a Final Year Project look like when designs leave the screen and start working?

In this short clip, our Mechanical Engineering students reflect on their Final Year Project experience — from developing a concept to seeing a seedling lifter tested in real-world conditions.

Final Year Projects allow students to take engineering ideas beyond design and into proof-of-concept testing, while offering industry partners the opportunity to explore early-stage engineering ideas before committing to full-scale solutions.

We want to thank Forest Growers Research Ltd (FGR) for partnering with our students on this project.

We’re still recruiting projects. Learn more about Final Year Project opportunities and how to get involved here:
https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/study/academic-study/engineering/schools-and-departments-engineering-forestry-product-design/mechanical-engineering-department/rd-collaborations

UC Engineering | Saurabh Sinha

13/10/2025

Congratulations to Morgan Stuthridge for completing his Master of Engineering with a thesis titled “Benchmarks for Aerodynamic Modelling of Hypersonic Vehicles.”

Supervised by Professor John Cater and Stephen Campbell, Morgan’s research develops and validates computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods for modelling hypersonic vehicle aerodynamics. By benchmarking simulation accuracy against experimental data, his work enhances predictions of pressure, heat transfer, and shock interactions—supporting future hypersonic aerospace and defence applications in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The first image shows a numerical Schlieren visualisation of a hypersonic double cone at Mach 12, highlighting shock wave–boundary layer interactions. The second image shows a surface static pressure distribution graph compared against experimental data.

Reflecting on his time at UC, Morgan shared:
“Studying at UC has pushed me to grow both technically and personally. I’ve really valued the guidance from my supervisors and the chance to work on research that connects to real aerospace challenges in Aotearoa.”

Morgan is now working as a Graduate Mechanical Engineer at Holmes Solutions, focusing on the testing, design, and simulation of roadside safety barriers and mooring line snapback protection systems.
We wish Morgan all the best in this next chapter!

Read more about his thesis: https://doi.org/10.26021/16059

25/09/2025

Join us next Wednesday, 1 October, 6–8 pm in the Rātā Building for the inaugural Engineering Industry Connect at UC. An evening to connect with engineers, students, and staff across mechanical, mechatronics, aerospace, and biomedical fields.

👉 Register your free entry here: https://events.humanitix.com/industry-connect-hosted-by-uc-s-department-of-mechanical-engineering